I am really stressed about what to get my nieces and nephew for this reason. They have so much crepe. Like loads of crepe. They have a 'playroom' that's just full of crepe. I love them, and I want them to know that they are each special and have superb personalities and whatnot, but I just, ugh. crepe.

For our nephews (we have 3), we give books generally. Books are great, don't take up a lot of room and can be easily donated.

Although, for one of our first nephews, when he was a baby, we bought him a cute half stuffed animal/half blankie thing (hard to explain but trust me, its cute). We went to visit them recently and he was carrying it around! I was so excited because it has got to be 5 years old. His parents don't hoard toys though so they don't actually have a lot (especially compared to other kids I've seen in upper middle class families).

Books are generally a safe bet though if you want to give something.

And I don't do gifts because I find it stressful. I tell everyone not to get me anything or donate to a charity or what not. My mom gets upset, not for herself but for my stepfather who does equate gifts with love. She does wish I'd buy him gifts but they have TONS of stuff, I see no need.

_________________You are all a disgrace to vegans. Go f*ck yourselves, especially linanil.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:54 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

Definitely understand that, poopiebitch. I'm the same. I want my nieces and nephew to have toys! But like, my goodness, consumer culture. Of course I've noticed it with myself, too (cough, shoes, cough). I guess a big thing for me this year is the importance of getting to spend actual time with love ones.

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:00 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

linanil: I usually do the same. Corinne is just starting to read, so she is EXTRA in to books right now. I have no idea what books to get though. I was seriously thinking about getting her Steven the Vegan, but it's so hard for her parents to get her to eat anything, I kind of don't want to make trouble for her. She is practically vegetarian anyway. I've given them Make Way for Ducklings, The Giving Tree, Blueberries for Sal, Where the Wild Things Are, The Lorax pop-up book...

Kind of off topic--does everyone else weep when they read The Giving Tree or is it just me?

poopiebitch: They are 5, 3, and 7 mos. Two older girls and a little boy. Any thoughts are very, very welcome. Corinne, 5, is the sensitive girl, artsy, etc. Lydia is going to be a linebacker. She takes zero shiitake from anyone (even at 3!). And Johnny? Well, he can sit up and eat rice cereal.

ETA: Corinne just had a birthday, so I got her a beginner painting set (non-toxic! washable!) and a little stuffed kitty because she really wants a real cat and her parents kind of suck. (OK, her parents don't suck, but they're waiting to adopt a cat who has already been declawed because they realize that declawing cats is horrific, but they still want a declawed cat. I'm sorry if that offends anyone.)

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:10 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

OH JEEZ! Don't get me started! (Eyes welling up) The tree still loved the boy! And gave him everything!

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:15 pm

Invented Vegan Meringue

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:30 pmPosts: 3562Location: Almost Boston

ndpittman wrote:

I am really stressed about what to get my nieces and nephew for this reason. They have so much crepe. Like loads of crepe. They have a 'playroom' that's just full of crepe. I love them, and I want them to know that they are each special and have superb personalities and whatnot, but I just, ugh. crepe.

My little cousins are the same. Their parents have never gotten rid of any of their toys, so every room in the house is just a mountain of toys. Like bordering on hoarding-level. The youngest kid is 4 now and they still have tons of infant toys lying around (and my aunt and uncle don't plan on having any more kids) because they just never get rid of anything and get a million presents for every christmas and birthday. So I'm definitely not going to buy them toys for christmas this year!

The Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink set (the books are also sold individually). They're just cute stories that make kids laugh - little pea has to finish dessert before he can eat his vegetables, little hoot has to stay up late instead of going to bed, little oink has to dirty his room... you get the idea.

Honestly, a 7 month old doesn't really need anything, and won't know the difference, so unless you're worried about his parents getting offended, then I wouldn't bother with him yet. Or ask them what to get him, because they might have something in mind that is practical.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:25 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

acr wrote:

ndpittman wrote:

OH JEEZ! Don't get me started! (Eyes welling up) The tree still loved the boy! And gave him everything!

nothing about this makes that boy not a jerk.

You're right, of course, but I just love that damn tree!

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:25 pm

Aired her grievances, lost the feat of strength

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:56 pmPosts: 4974Location: On The Road

Yuch, apparently instead of spending Xmas with my husband, his dad & his new wife and his sis, her husband & their 3 kids we're now also spending it with his cousin ans his dads new wife's son who's bringing his girlfriend (who he's know for a month) and her daughter.

It sounds like a forking nightmare, and, of course, we have to stay over & buy everyone gifts. I hate Christmas this year & I'm tempted to jump on a plane & run away somewhere.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:26 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

raspberrycomplaint wrote:

ndpittman wrote:

I am really stressed about what to get my nieces and nephew for this reason. They have so much crepe. Like loads of crepe. They have a 'playroom' that's just full of crepe. I love them, and I want them to know that they are each special and have superb personalities and whatnot, but I just, ugh. crepe.

My little cousins are the same. Their parents have never gotten rid of any of their toys, so every room in the house is just a mountain of toys. Like bordering on hoarding-level. The youngest kid is 4 now and they still have tons of infant toys lying around (and my aunt and uncle don't plan on having any more kids) because they just never get rid of anything and get a million presents for every christmas and birthday. So I'm definitely not going to buy them toys for christmas this year!

I think they give things away, and they definitely have it confined to the playroom, but I mean, you could play for like, weeks and still figure out new stuff from in there.

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:30 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

Thanks linanil and poopiebitch for the book suggestions! I think they sound great, and I'm going to go order them (through the PPK!) when I get home. I will probably get Johnny a onesie or something. They are actually really cool and don't expect me to get their kids anything, so that's a load of pressure off. I just like these kids so much though! And I do want them to have a super fun Christmas. I won't be able to be there, but hopefully we'll be able to Facetime again. Although Thanksgiving Facetime was just the girls running around screaming. I did get to see Johnny sit up though!

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:33 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6536Location: Boston, MA

ijustdiedinside wrote:

Are they into cooking/helping out in the kitchen at all? I had this idea to get my friends kids a small mixing bowl and mini spatula and some cute muffin papers and then a jar of homemade muffin mix.

Oh my goodness! That is such a cute idea! Hmm. . . I will have to investigate this--thanks for sharing!

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:58 pm

Smuggling Raisins

Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:52 pmPosts: 321

Have to add this even though a bunch of people have already posted a ton of great ideas, but my favourite kind of gift for kids I'm close to is to take them on an outing somewhere. We took my best friend's kids to the science center last year, for example. They have fun and it doesn't add to the mountain of crepe they own.

_________________She eats a paleo diet, just like the whiskey-and-bacon-eating australopithecans before her. - annak

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:16 pm

Not a creepy cheese pocket person

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:17 pmPosts: 4762Location: Austin

ndpittman wrote:

I am really stressed about what to get my nieces and nephew for this reason. They have so much crepe. Like loads of crepe. They have a 'playroom' that's just full of crepe. I love them, and I want them to know that they are each special and have superb personalities and whatnot, but I just, ugh. crepe.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:45 pm

Dr Bronners, MD

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:20 pmPosts: 4681Location: Edinburgh

My nephew will be just under 4 months at Xmas. I bought him (well, my sister and her husband, really) a pack of 100 diapers. He has plenty of clothes and can't really play with toys, so I figured, why bother? And my sister doesn't want him to have a bunch of toys either. I don't know about next year, though. I can't wait until he's old enough to read. Mike's niece and nephews always get books (apart from one year when I bought them Panda With Cookie gear). Last year, they got a fully illustrated Dr Seuss anthology. I wish *I* had that book.

_________________A pie eating contest is a battle with no losers. - amandabear

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:21 pm

Just Loathin' Around!

Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:17 pmPosts: 8079Location: bindlestiff

ijustdiedinside wrote:

specifically, I hate gifts around thi time because there's so much pressure to get presents for so many people and it's so expensive. I really like giving birthday gifts or gifts for random occasions.

Have y'all thought of doing something that everyone gets that is the same? The IJDI and Co. ornament of the year, or some such? You can make felt ornaments fairly cheaply. Or everyone gets a jar o' homemade jam or a handmade reindeer headband. I love stuff like that and you and H. would be able to come up with something unique and funny. I think if you can find a way to make it fun (like your Christmas portrait from a few years ago) it's a lot easier to get into. Or just give everyone a dreidel.

_________________Panda With Cookie If I get caught as a fugitive eating chain pizza, its going to be Pizza Hut. -linanilanil

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:24 pm

Vegan Since Before There Were Vegetables

Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:43 pmPosts: 12813Location: Redmond, WA

pandacookie wrote:

ijustdiedinside wrote:

specifically, I hate gifts around thi time because there's so much pressure to get presents for so many people and it's so expensive. I really like giving birthday gifts or gifts for random occasions.

Have y'all thought of doing something that everyone gets that is the same? The IJDI and Co. ornament of the year, or some such? You can make felt ornaments fairly cheaply. Or everyone gets a jar o' homemade jam or a handmade reindeer headband. I love stuff like that and you and H. would be able to come up with something unique and funny. I think if you can find a way to make it fun (like your Christmas portrait from a few years ago) it's a lot easier to get into. Or just give everyone a dreidel.

I like that! if we worked together to make everyone some jams and homemade bread or a fancy popcorn assortment or something non food related. Thank you! It's too late for this year, but if we start thinking about it now, we could make it work for next time. Phew! That actually makes me feel way better about this year, too.

_________________I am not a troll. I am TELLING YOU THE ******GOD'S TRUTH****** AND YOU JUST DON'T WANT THE HEAR IT DO YOU?